THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, January 22, 1996 TAG: 9601220070
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A5 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
Robin Jill Wells, a delegate from Richmond, was asked by The Virginian-Pilot to keep a diary of her thoughts during the National Issues Convention. Wells is a 27-year-old lawyer who passed the bar in 1994. Here are some excerpts from her logs:
Saturday night:
Dinner tonight was centered around a Mexican theme. The tablecloths were decorated in bright reds, oranges and blues . . . After dinner we walked over to the hall where the PBS television forum would be taped.
It takes awhile for 600 people (that was the expected number; 459 actually showed up) to get organized . . . We were on the front row, directly behind the moderator, Jim Lehrer.
The first Republican candidate was Dick Lugar from Indiana. This one-on-one exchange allowed the average Joe to talk with national candidates.
It is very exciting to be so close to the candidates. Seeing these men in person is an excellent way to witness their demeanor as they answer questions that our groups have been discussing for a day and a half. Lugar seems earnest and genuine as he answers the random questions.
Lamar Alexander was the next candidate. He was unable to come in person, so we observed his answers by satellite. This closed-circuit exchange did not have the same effect. One of our complaints this weekend is that the politicians have distanced themselves from the people that they represent. This is a prime example!
Phil Gramm joined us next, also by satellite, from Seattle. The questions from our groups are starting to repeat themselves. I think that's a good thing for two reasons. First, each candidate gets to address the same basic topics. We get to see how each differs in addressing the same issues. Second, this shows we all have the same basic concerns . . .
Steve Forbes, from Washington, was the last candidate interviewed tonight - again by satellite.
Sunday
After getting up ridiculously early to pack and catch a bus to the forum, we paused for a box breakfast and mingled for a short time over coffee.
Our days have been long, and it is starting to catch up with us. It is also pretty amazing to see how fast everyone became friends. Our group has been interacting extremely well and it's hard to believe that three days ago we had never seen each other before!
I definitely wonder how (this weekend) will affect the people in my group after go our separate ways. I know it will make me more aware of the issues in the upcoming presidential election.
It's been quite an experience to participate in an idea that gives the American people a voice. One of my group's complaints has been the apathetic American who believes his/her voice no longer makes a difference. Given the opportunity to voice my own opinion and listen to others voice their opinions has renewed my faith in the democratic system.
Vice President Al Gore was our speaker today and he appeared in person (I even shook his hand.) . . . One member of my group was chosen to ask Gore how businesses could provide in-house day care for their employees. This is a great example of how an idea from our group blossomed into a genuine issue that we were able to ask the vice president.
This whole convention is like a microcosm of the democratic process. The only thing we have left to do is actually vote! MEMO: [For related stories, see page A1 and A5 for this date.]
ILLUSTRATION: Robin Wells
KEYWORDS: COMMUNITY CONVERSATION NATIONAL ISSUES CONVENTION by CNB